Friends Along the Way

Hello! I'm still here with you. Your prayers have proved God does hear and answer in mighty ways. I have enjoyed an excellent quality of life, parallel to none, despite one year of harsh chemo treatments and immuno-drug therapy. My God kept me feeling healthy and pain-free for the majority of the time and it allowed me to be among the people. Coffee dates, luncheons, hiking adventures, and numerous get togethers at the cabin this summer brought much joy to my heart and life. Thank you for freely giving of your time to be with me.

Unfortunately, this fall, I have not felt as well. One of the treatments caused my thyroid level to skyrocket which brought days of extreme tiredness. I'm still able to get out and move about but I'm sleeping more often.

One big blessing sent my way this fall is the new friendship formed with a gal from Washington. In August, she came to visit her family in MN and I had the honor and privilege of not only meeting her, but spending precious time with her throughout the month of September. Phoebe also has cancer and the first time we met we bonded immediately. We share the same fears and struggles, but most importantly we share the same faith in Jesus Christ and that makes everything sweet.

Last week we were asked to share our cancer stories at a Ladies' Bible Study. Surrounded by beautiful women of the faith, our evening was filled with excellent conversation in the Lord. Phoebe and I were truly blessed by God to speak of His greatness.

I would like to share a small portion of what I shared last Friday night:

Phoebe has journeyed this cancer road for three years, I have walked its path for only one and just recently God has brought us together and we have become traveling companions. In the course of our travels, we have learned many valuable principles.

Phoebe and I have agreed we could be like foolish King Hezekiah and cry out to the Lord asking Him to extend our lives. And God may answer those prayers. But Psalm 106 verse 15 reminds us to be very careful for what we ask for as it reads: And He gave them their request, but sent leanness to their soul. James 4:3 goes on to say: "because you ask amiss that you may spend it on your own pleasures."...

There is another King recorded in the Bible who did pray intelligently. The voice of a young King Solomon is recorded I Kings Chapter 3. This young man never asked for a long life, nor for riches, nor for the life of his enemies. He simply asked God for wisdom in order to deal with life's affairs. Phoebe and I have taken this godly advice from the scriptures and have poured our hearts before the Lord not asking Him to grant us a long life, nor send us wealth, nor take away our problems. Instead, we have asked for hearts of wisdom and to be known as women of good understanding. We have learned to be flexible and content with whatever God chooses. We are confident in our speech to say: "Shall not the God of unconditional love surround us continually in goodness, mercy and grace?" He most certainly will and so with full hearts of assurance we can proclaim:

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us -all- the days of our lives (not just some of the days) and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Heaven is a guaranteed future for those who are saved by God's grace.) Psalm 23:6

And so I ask for you, dear sisters and brothers in Christ, to join me in prayer for wisdom and pursuit in fulfilling God's eternal purposes. I am willing to depart. I am willing to stay. I just want what God wants and that makes life sweet and peaceful.

Thank you again for the oodles and oodles of prayer.  And please add Phoebe to your prayer list too.

🍁Thankful Thoughts

"God will always find us a work to do, a niche to fill, a place to serve, even a soul to save, when it is His will and not ours." - Anthony W. Thorold